Failure to Properly Date, Secure, and Document Oxygen Equipment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident with chronic combined systolic and diastolic heart failure, COPD, and panlobular emphysema who was receiving oxygen therapy. Observations revealed that the resident's oxygen tubing was dragging on the floor while the resident was propelling himself in a wheelchair, and the tubing was not changed or dated according to facility protocol. The humidification bottle attached to the oxygen concentrator was also undated during multiple observations. Interviews with the Director of Nursing confirmed that oxygen tubing is supposed to be changed weekly and dated, and that this should be documented in the Medication Administration Record (MAR) or Treatment Administration Record (TAR). However, review of the resident's records showed no documentation of when or how often the oxygen tubing was changed, nor any evidence that the tubing had been changed as required. The lack of proper dating, securing, and documentation of oxygen equipment led to the identified deficiency.